A catalogue of this collection is available on the online archive catalogue. Click on the Finding Number to display the summary contents list of the catalogue and to view the full catalogue.

Access Status

Open

Creator Name

Astle, Thomas (1735-1803) Antiquary Archivist Palaeographer

Administrative History

Thomas Astle (1735-1803), archivist and collector of books and manuscripts, was born at Yoxall, Staffordshire. Early in his career , in 1761, he was engaged by the British Museum to compile the index to the catalogue of the Harley manuscripts which was published in 1763. In the same year he was elected Fellow of Society of Antiquaries and later, in 1766, Fellow of the Royal Society. Astle collaborated with Philip Morant on the publication of parliamentary records and after Morant's death in 1770 Astle continued the slow work on the six volumes of Rotuli parliamentorum (1278-1503) which were not published until 1783. By this time Astle had been appointed first to the office of chief clerk to the record office in the Tower, 1775 and later to the position of Keeper of the Records. In 1787 he was elected a trustee of the British Museum. Among his publications which drew on his manuscript collection, the most substantial work is The origin and progress of writing 1784. During his lifetime he formed a large collection of medieval charters and manuscripts as well as an important library of printed books. On his death the bulk of the manuscripts were bequeathed to George Grenville, first Marquess of Buckingham and were housed at Sowe House, Buckinghamshire until they were sold to the government in 1879 and were placed in the British Museum and continue to be known as the Stowe manuscripts.Source: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online Accessed: 8 Jan 2007

Custodial History

Former location: MSS 5/iii/2The volume contains the bookplate of Charles Eamer Kempe (1837-1907) grandson of Sir John Eamer, patron of Samuel Ayscough (1745-1804) who was a librarian and antiquary and associate of Thomas Astle.Acquisition reported in University Librarian's Annual Report 1964/1965.

Copies

A negative microfiche copy of this volume (on 3 fiche) has been made and is available for making copies for research purposes